OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND TEAM

LTC. Kestutis Eidukonis is the Managing Director of KE-International (USA). A turn-around expert for over 500 businesses ranging between $500,000 - $60M in annual revenue, he also worked extensively in Russia, the Baltics, and Scandinavia advising firms, setting up concerns, and restructured a European Bank's U.S. investment portfolio. He served with the 1st Cavalry and MACV Military Assistance Command Viet Nam.

He played a major role in reestablishing the democratically elected government of Panama, and was the primary advisor to the Commander-in-Chief, United States Southern Command (CINC USSOUTHCOM) for Political-Military affairs for Panama, Nicaragua and Latin and Central America nations, receiving numerous decorations for outstanding performance. 

His military service includes numerous Special Active duty tours both stateside and overseas. He has worked with and for, all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces, with U.S. Embassies, the U.S. State Department and U.S. Congress. Eidukonis’ decorations from the Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marines including Bronze Star, Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Combat Infantryman's Badge, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm, and 14 others. He has worked closely with the Lithuanian Parliament ans Lithuanian government institutions. Member of "Reserve Officers Association, Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion.  Served as head of World Wide Lithuanian Communities Economics Commission.

A graduate of Kyiv National University in Law, Psychology, and Criminal Justice Bohdan F.  is the founder and CEO of a company focused on importing and supplying heating systems for the domestic market. After 24 Feb 2022 during Russia's full scale invasion of Ukraine Bohdan began volunteering and doing social work, for which he received an award from the Volyn Region Military administration. He was among the first ones to pass the military mobilization commission. While waiting to be mobilized he managed humanitarian aid transports from partner countries to Ukraine. He continues to work in his business and is also actively involved in volunteering, organizing aid and helping the army on the front lines and in the rear for which he provides transportation and logistics. Bohdan speaks Ukrainian, English, Polish and Russian.

Andrew B. boasts over 16 years of experience in the healthcare sector, with a focus on home health care and nursing homes. Additionally, he demonstrates unwavering commitment to humanitarian efforts, particularly in Ukraine, where he facilitates the transportation and care of injured soldiers classified under the green and yellow categories. Andrew also plays a pivotal role in conducting comprehensive tactical medicine training sessions, catering to both civilian and military populations.

Devin H. is a seasoned Health and Safety Specialist who honed his expertise at Amazon before transitioning to become a certified Combat Medic with NAEMT. Renowned for his leadership in implementing transformative Health and Safety initiatives, Devin led multiple projects across various sites, significantly reducing injury rates. With a background as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) and a former instructor in Basic Life Support (BLS), his dedication to saving lives remains steadfast. His guiding principle: "Evil triumphs when good men do nothing."

Casey Kazlauskas has and MA in Industrial Design from UCLA, an MA in Special Education from CSUDH. He taught college-level Problem-Solving, Ergonomics, Product and Graphic Design Classes. 

He worked in propaganda development for U.S. Army and USAR PSYOPS and as a Public Affairs Army Journalist. 

Casey won Keith L. Ware Awards for Photojournalism and Video Production. 

He designed playground equipment for use by able-bodied and physically challenged children. 

He taught High School Special Education classes. 

He was a Special Projects Manager: 

· Created video teaching materials for the Endodontics Department, USC Dental School. 

· Deputy Director, USC Humanities A/V Center. 

· Director of Photography, Second Unit, for several low-budget feature films. Started the Experimental Design Skills Workshops for undergraduate students at UCLA. 

· Taught photography classes as a Teaching Assistant at UCLA. 

He is currently working on a book, "Lithuanian Chronicles: Before, During and After the Iron Curtain" 

Igor Rubchinsky spearheads Blue/Yellow USA's critical Ukraine operations, leveraging his 10+ years of medical expertise and 20+ years in logistics and operations to ensure life-saving medical supplies, care packages, and safety equipment reach the armed forces and displaced families on the frontlines. Driven by a lifelong commitment to human rights, he bridges the gap between generous donors and those in desperate need.

Experience:

· Mobilized Resources During Kyiv's Defense:Led a successful fundraising and support effort for a Ukrainian charity during the pivotal Battle of Kyiv, demonstrating his leadership and ability to secure resources in critical times.

· Logistics & Operations Optimization: Joined Blue/Yellow USA early in the conflict, bringing over 20 years of experience to streamline aid delivery. His expertise ensures that vital resources reach those most affected efficiently.

· Strengthening Local Partnerships: Undertook a 2023 field visit to Ukraine, meeting local volunteers, partners, and beneficiaries. This visit provided firsthand insights and fostered stronger relationships, solidifying Blue/Yellow USA's impact on the ground.

Commitment: 

Unwavering in his dedication, Igor, born in Kyiv, Ukraine, stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the Ukrainian people. He firmly believes in their strength and resilience. He envisions a future filled with peace and stability where humanitarian aid becomes unnecessary.

Jon Platakis is a first generation Lithuanian America entrepreneur, businessman, educator, and founder/chairman of the National Lithuanian American Hall of Fame, who is currently attempting to bring Lithuanian history into American educational systems.

Jon is a veteran of the US military. 

  Jim Dolbow is a senior defense staffer on Capitol Hill.  In addition to his 21 year career on Capitol Hill, previous assignments included Fleet Professor of Theater Security Decision Making for the U.S. Naval War College’s Fleet Seminar program, Senior Acquisitions Editor for Professional Development Content at the U.S. Naval Institute Press, defense contractor at both the Department of Homeland Security and the Naval History & Heritage Command, editorial board member of the U.S. Naval Institute, and as a GS-13 analyst with the OPNAV N3/5 Navy Special Projects Office 

Dolbow received his commission in the United States Coast Guard Reserve in July 2002. Jim is a Life member of the U.S. Naval Institute, Navy League of the United States, Air Force Association, Reserve Officers Association, Military Officers Association, Association of the United States Army, National Guard Association of the United States, and the Naval War College Foundation. He has been published in Proceedings, National Defense, The Washington Post, Washington Times, Sea Power, Navy Times, Armed Forces Journal International, to name a few. He has also lectured at Indiana University, National Defense University, and the Defense Acquisition University on the role of Congress in national defense.

Dolbow has a B.A. in Political Science from Marymount University in Arlington, Virginia and a Masters degree in National Security & Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College and a Masters degree in Strategic Intelligence Studies from The Institute of World Politics in Washington, DC. He is the editor of The Coast Guardsman’s Manual (10th & 11th ed.) which were published by the Naval Institute Press in 2013 and 2017.

 Ausra Tallat-Kelpsa Di Raimondo is a multi-lingual (English, Lithuanian, German, Spanish, French, Italian, and Turkish) finance industry executive with background in business, the food industry, chemistry, medicine and historical research focused on Europe. Of Lithuanian, Ukrainian, and Italian heritage, she has split her life between Europe and the United States. She traveled behind the Iron Curtain with Franklin University Switzerland seeing the oppressive regimes at work first-hand,Lived and studied in West Berlin for over a decade, and spent time in various European countries.

She is Board President of Blue/Yellow USA, a US 501(c)(3) founded in 2019. Blue/Yellow USA has provided over $800K in drones, $200K in protective equipment, $700K worth of optical equipment, and $600K in medical care/equipment as well as humanitarian aid.

Jonas Öhman is a filmmaker, author, journalist, translator, and democracy activist. While working on his theology degree in Sweden, he met some Estonians living there, descendants of refugees from the USSR occupation. Interested in these occupied nations he journeyed to Lithuania in 1990, as the USSR threatened to shut down the independence movement. He came to help and stayed, identifying with Lithuania due to the way it’s defied the odds.

Fluent in Lithuanian, Russian, among many other languages, he delved into Lithuania’s painful history of brutal occupations while working as a journalist. He directed and produced three films about the various stages of the Lithuanian resistance and those who sought to kill it. Among these was “The Invisible Front” a film about the resistance fighter Juozas Luksa. Öhman had read his memoir The Forest Brothers” in one night, and while translating them into Swedish, met with Luksa’s family and friends, and began fleshing out a possible film. The film brings the fight for freedom and Lithuania’s unquenchable thirst for it through to its final successful struggle for independence.

It was no wonder then, that, having witnessed the grassroots student-led Maidan protests in 2014 against the Ukrainian government corruption that had led to a pro-Kremlin government, and the subsequent invasion of parts of Ukraine by Russia, he and other like-minded volunteers founded Blue/Yellow for Ukraine in Lithuania and began providing concrete help to these Ukrainian regions that were invaded by Russia. Having served in the Swedish military, it was not a far reach for him to be involved on the front lines. He published his book, “Donbass Jazz” about the Maidan, and the war from 2014 up to the 2022 full-scale Russian invasion. 

Jonas’ front-line experience in Ukraine was included in two comprehensive US Army War College reports: “Analysis of Russian Strategy in Eastern Europe, an Appropriate U.S. Response, and the Implications for U.S. Landpower”, and “Assessment on Russian Strategy in Eastern Europe and Recommendations on How to Leverage Landpower to Maintain the Peace”, Projects 1704 (2015) and 1721 (2017. He also works with the NATO Parliamentary Assembly.

He has been to DC numerous times to discuss Ukraine with Congress including at the 12/7/2022 Helsinki Commission hearing (along with Blue/Yellow USA’s then Managing Director, Rima Ziuraitis).

Jonas has been awarded numerous times for his actions in Ukraine, by armed forces units, ministries and by the presidents of Ukraine and Lithuania. He is the only foreigner who has been awarded the medal for "The defense of Avdiivka". He was awarded Lithuanian citizenship by exception.

Blue Yellow for Ukraine Lithuania has provided Ukraine with over $50M in aid. (It and Blue/Yellow USA are completely separate organizations, legally, nationally, financially.)

In 2014 Kerry was appointed Honorary Consul of Lithuania to Vermont.   As Honorary Consul, she is responsible for deepening the bilateral  cooperation of the United States and Lithuania in economic, cultural,  educational and scientific affairs.

Kerry is the founder of her company, Watershed Coaching, LLC. She  is a leadership coach and consultant for individuals and organizations,  who focuses on executive coaching, women’s leadership, team coaching,  and leadership training. She has worked extensively with leaders of many  international, national, and local companies and organizations to  significantly increase their performance, goal-attainment, and personal  fulfillment.

A member of the Vermont Leadership Institute, Class of 2012, Kerry is  also an active member of the Vermont Businesses for Social  Responsibility and the Brattleboro Area Chamber of Commerce. As founder  of the Women’s Leadership Circles of Vermont program (formerly with  Marlboro College), she has worked with women leaders throughout the  state. In 2014, she was named by the governor to the Vermont Commission  on Women. She is an active volunteer.

Kerry’s ties with Lithuania are strong. She is a fourth-generation  Lithuanian-American who first learned about Lithuania as a camper at  Camp Neringa in Marlboro, Vermont, which was founded in the 1960s to  preserve the Lithuanian heritage and culture through the period of  Soviet occupation that started after World War II.

Her first trip to Lithuania was during college when she traveled  there briefly on an international student exchange. After graduating  from Villanova University in 1991, she lived for two years in Vilnius,  the capital of Lithuania, learning Lithuanian and teaching English at  Vilnius University and the Lithuanian Teachers Institute.

Upon her return to the United States, as part of the first diplomatic  corps after the Soviet Occupation, Kerry joined the Lithuanian Embassy  in Washington, D.C. as the Advisor for Educational and Cultural Affairs  in 1993. When she left four years later to obtain a graduate degree at  SIT Graduate Institute in Brattleboro, Vermont, the President of  Lithuania granted her citizenship in appreciation of her contributions  to the country. She also spent a year as the Smithsonian Folklife  Festival Program Coordinator for the Baltic States cultural program.  After working with the American Red Cross in Washington, D.C. for three  years, she moved with her family in 2003 to Vermont, where she is  raising her two daughters bilingually. Kerry returns to Lithuania  regularly for both work and vacation.

Kerry has a master’s degree in International  & Intercultural Relations with a focus on human resource development  from the SIT Graduate Institute and received her undergraduate degree  from Villanova University. She is certified as an Integral Coach through  New Ventures West and in mediation through the Center for Dispute  Settlement in Washington, DC.

Marc Hamlin is a U.S. military intelligence veteran of 10 years with 3 deployments. He is a graduate of The University of Texas with degrees in Government, History, and Middle Eastern Studies. He is a Vice President at a large wealth management firm. In 2022, he co-founded The Victory Team focused on mission critical equipment to the Ukrainian frontlines. His focus is enhancing units, so they have a battlefield edge over the Russians, and advocacy work in Washington D.C. He resides in Texas with his fiancé and his dog Peppermint.